Prosecutors on Thursday issued a summary indictment against former ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Kentaro Sonoura, along with his two former secretaries, for allegedly reporting political funds improperly.
The latest scandal could add to headwinds facing the LDP, led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, ahead of a string of local elections in the spring, as well as a Lower House by-election to select a replacement for Sonoura, who quit Wednesday, as a House of Representatives member.
A political organization headed by Sonoura underreported some ¥41 million ($310,000) collected from six fundraising parties held between 2018 and 2020, the prosecutors said.